History of John Griffith Timothy, Part 2

From New York , the party journeyed by train to Omaha, Nebraska, where they camped at Mormon Headquarters for two weeks, awaiting the arrival of ox teams from Utah to take them on to the west. The company was named the “Dan Jones” after its captain. The wagon assigned to John and Martha took two families, including five grown people and nine children. Before leaving Omaha, John bought a cow, which made it necessary for him to walk all the way and lead the cow, but the milk was necessary for the young children. The wagon in the caravan next to John’s was drawn by two cows belonging to one of the group who bought them in Omaha, so that they could milk them night and morning and drive them in the day time.

While the company was traveling along the Platte River, Martha’s first girl was born, 3 Aug 1862, Martha, the 7^th child of the family. During that night, a raging storm arose. Martha and the baby were in the covered wagon, and the children were sleeping in a tent, which blew down and their beds floated around in the water. The man who shared the wagon with John’s family had guns and hunted along the way for game. One day, he left his gun lying in the front seat, and it rolled off and shot a man through the leg. This man was milking his cow, and it passed through the flesh of his leg and into the cow’s foot. They happened to be camping by a ranch, and through kindness of the owner, the wounded cow was traded for another, permitting them to go on with the company.

The oldest boy, David, said, “The old nick himself was along, and tried in every conceivable way to discourage the weary travelers.” One day, when they were camped and apparently everything was quiet and peaceful, the oxen suddenly pricked up their ears and started a stampede. Several children barely escaped being trampled under their feet, and John, just in time, dragged two of his boys from their path. The company landed in Salt Lake City late in October and were unloaded on the public square. Can you imagine this picture: Martha with six children all under eight years old, the baby two months old, in a strange land, winter coming on, no money, work, or provisions? For two weeks, they were taken in by the family of an elder who had labored in Wales, but with five mischievous boys who succeeded in breaking down a valuable young apple tree, they were soon passed on to George Bywater, who allowed them to camp in his yard and gave them many privileges, which were much appreciated. Early in November, after searching for work in every conceivable place, John hired out to Israel Evans at Lehi. He contracted for one year, and for this labor he was to have a one-room dobie house to live in, flour for the family to use, and five head of sheep. Thus, with the aid of other Welsh families in Lehi, they passed the first winter, enduring many hardships.

The family lived in Lehi during the year 1863, and another son was born, Hyrum. In March 1864, they moved to Provo Valley, in the vicinity of Heber City. In March 1867, John and his son David took the flock of sheep and the cows, and walked up Daniel’s Canyon and over the mountain to Round Valley, later known as Wallsburg, walking all the way on several inches and sometimes several feet of snow. Here, they rented a farm of William Wall, and in April, they moved the family over. But after three weeks, the Indian scare drove them back to Heber. The women and children were packed in wagons, and the men drove the cattle and sheep. After several days, the scare died down, and the men ventured back to care for the crops. They finally took courage and drove the cattle back, and John, along with others, were organized in a company and took turns standing guard to report any signs of Indians.

Because of the Indian scare, a Mr. Stokes, thinking the Round Valley settlement would be abandoned, traded John a 92-acre farm, a lot, and two cabins for a yoke of steers. John, also thinking they would not be able to live there, took his family back to the valley, hauled the two cabins back to Heber, filed on a city lot, and built their first two-room house. Later, twelve families decided to go back and locate for the winter, which they did without further trouble with the Indians, including John’s family.

(Click here to continue to Part 3.)